Kookaburras continue title defence with statement win, Hockeyroos valiant in narrow loss to World No. 2 Argentina
The Kookaburras have continued their FIH Pro League title defence with a resounding 2-nil win over hosts Argentina.
Watch tomorrow morning's matches against Belgium live and free on 7plus
Mark Hager's side arrived in Santiago del Estero, having retained six of the eight debutants who featured in Sydney's 4-2 win over the Olympic champions, the Netherlands, and they welcomed back Hayden Beltz and Tim Brand from the India Hockey League.
Argentina lined up determined to remedy their three-goal loss to world number two Belgium just 24 hours earlier, as the brutal Argentinian sun played havoc on a hot Thursday evening.
The Kookaburras picked up from where they left off, igniting their trademark relentless style of play on attack and defence, and immediately, they had Argentina on the back foot.
A quick save by Argentina's goalie, Tomas Santiago, denied Tassie's Jack Welch the first goal of the match, but Australia continued to hunt for the lead, and it soon paid off.
Argentina's defence buckled as Craig Marais crabbed along the line to assist Tim Brand with a rocketing ball past the keeper off a double-handed shove.
One goal up, Australia continued to exert immense pressure, forcing Santiago to make a crucial save to halt an in-form Ky Willott, who was hunting his fourth goal of the season and had the chance to double the lead right on the hooter.
But it would be Victoria's Cooper Burns in just his fifth international, who would pull off a sensational reverse stick shot to find the back of the net following an impressive turnover by his statesman Craig Marais to double the Kookaburras lead.
Australia held the Argentinians scoreless through the second half, but they faced pressure in the third, halting five consecutive penalty corners and facing a period where they were a man down to hold onto what was otherwise a clinical win.
"It was a fiery, heated match, and it turned into a defensive battle for us there in the end, but we came out strong, and it was a really pleasing performance," NSW Ky Willott said on 7plus, after claiming his second Player of the Match award in 2025.
A last-quarter domination by the Hockeyroos wasn't enough to remedy an early two-goal blitz by the hosts in the later match of the evening, recording a valiant 2-1 loss to open their Argentina FIH Pro League campaign.
The Hockeyroos arrived in Santiago del Estero with two debutants, Ruby Harris and Karissa Van der Wath, having rested five experienced players who had all competed in the India Hockey League in January.
On a hot and humid night, the hosts lined up with eight players boasting over 130 caps, while Australia had just one, their captain Mariah Williams, and Argentina used that experience to gain a vital two-goal lead early.
Beating the Australian defence to score a fast goal out wide, Argentina doubled it off their first penalty corner with a slow flick that found its way through Aleisha Power's legs.
Argentina would hold the lead until the fourth, where the Hockeyroos had built momentum to produce an impressive second-half fightback.
Two chances to newcomer Abby Wilson would go astray before Australia finally found a way to make it count in the 48th minute through a brilliant team goal.
The quick hands of Queenslander Jade Smith, in her fourth outing in green and gold, combined off a tidy pass by Maddi Brooks in the circle to find the net and ignite a much needed comeback.
As the clock ticked down in the final 12 minutes, and Argentina were down to 10 for the remainder of the match due to a red card, Australia had all the possession and three penalty corners in a desperate bid to send the match to a shootout.
A standout performance by Argentina's goalkeeper Cristina Cosentino would deny the Hockeyroos the chance to level on every occasion.
Forcing Australia to settle for an honourable 1-2 loss to the Paris Olympic bronze medallists.
"I was really impressed with our second half fight back," skipper Mariah Williams said on 7plus.
"I think it showed on the scoreboard and out on the pitch that we have a really good game to play and a really good way of play. We came out in the second half and gave it our all, and it was a really close game at the end, so we're really happy with the finish."
The Kookaburras and Hockeyroos face a swift turnaround before continuing a fiery rivalry against Belgium tomorrow morning at 9am and 11.30am AEDT live and free on 7plus.
